In the heart of art-Shaleen

TIMES OF INDIA CHEMBUR GHATKOPARPLUS Friday, 26 OCTOBER 2007

In the heart of art

An art and music juggalbandi was the highlight of the half an hour cultural programme held during Dussera. The art exhibition also included work done by the underprivileged children.

Sujatha Subraman

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On the occasiuon of Dussera, art and music lovers of chembur were treated to an unusual event - a live juggalbandi of music and art at the Thiruchembur Muruguan temple Complex in Cheddanagar. School students studying the art of oil psinting at the chembur-based Vedanth Creations, displayed over 50 paintings all along the long winding staircase of the temple. The art exhibition also included work done by the Children's Aid Home (Balkalyanagari) in Mankhurd.

PS Subramanian, secretary of the temple, said, "We decided to open the doors of our temple for this noble cause, because we wanted to provide a platform for the young artistes. Extra lighting was provided in the staircase to give the effect of an art gallery."

The art and music combination or juggalbandi was the highlights of the half an hour cultural programme on Sunday morning from 10.30 am onwards. Namrata Bharat, a class VIIth student of Swami Vivekanand School, is a talented singer, who has sung several jingles for commercials, like Cadbury's and Frooti, inclduing playback singing for the children's film Bhoot Uncle. She rendered six devotional songs and abhangs on the occasion. The Vede brothers-Nilesh and sandesh-were the artistes, who matched the brush strokes to the tunes of Namrata's Music.

In an interview with CG PLus, Namrata stated, "This is the first time I sang and watched someone painting on the canvas based on my tunes."

Nilesh, the Chembur based artist, whose famous clients include Bollywood stars, like Hritik Roshan, Anupam Kher, etc. is currently working along with Salman Khan on a series of paintings. "I have done this act during my recent exhibition, but such events do not happen often in this part of suburb. I am looking forward to the event,because it comprises of a bunch of talented young children," he said.

Teleactor Shaleen Bhanot graced the occasion as the special Guest. Budding artistes from the area are also an excited lot. Suraj and Vijay both class X students from OLPS and Modern English School, respectivewly have already been honoured by the Lioness Club of Vasant Vihar for their works of art based on nature. "We look forward to sharing our art with other artistes from the Mankhurd Home," stated the duo.

Vedant Khanna and Nimay Bhagadia, both class IX students from St Mary's ICSE School, Magagoan, are the other young artistes in the group.

S Ravindranath, the art teacher who has coached all these children in the art of oil painting, explained, "Normally, school chuldren are not taught to use oil colours, as it involves mixing the oil-based coliurs with turpentine. I took up the challenge and to my surprise. i found that there is immense talent among the kids fron the Mankhurd home. This exhibition was a platform for such deprived choldren to showcase their talents before the world. The appreciation from manstream society really boosted the confidence levals of these children. This event was a small attempt to bring joy into their dark world through colours."

Parents, like Kavita and Bhavana, whose kids are part of the art showm termed it as a unique larning experience.

" This event was like a practical lesson for our children to learn and understand the kind of life led by those living in orphanages," they stated.

TIMES OF INDIA CHEMBUR GHATKOPARPLUS Sunday, 28 OCTOBER 2007